Representatives of the provincial Liberal party issued a “cry for help” on behalf of rural Nova Scotia on Saturday.

Liberals gathered for their annual general meeting at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax to pass policy resolutions to be considered for inclusion in the party’s election platform.

Among other proposals on education, housing and food security, members voted to create incentives to lure businesses to rural areas and vowed to bring back the Yarmouth ferry.

Party member Nancy Sweeney spoke in favour of the small-business resolution, pointing out that the proposal wasn’t intended to exacerbate the rural-urban divide in the province.

“Our traditional ways of trying to recruit ... employers is not exactly up to snuff,” she told attendees. “We cannot move forward in sustaining a solid rural economy without the support of our urban counterparts. So we are here to ask for your help.”

The resolution would introduce a five-year business tax holiday and payroll subsidy for any business that sets up or expands in rural Nova Scotia. The proposal also seeks to develop a rural investment fund to provide capital for new and existing small- and medium-sized businesses.

Paula Lunn, who ran as the Liberal candidate in Hants West in the last two elections, said the measure would provide some relief from the province’s high tax rates.

“We have the highest taxes for businesses in Canada. Across the board, every type of tax we have, Nova Scotia is the highest,” she said. “Why would anyone want to come from British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and set up shop here in Nova Scotia, when they’re just going to pay more?”

The resolution didn’t pass without some resistance. One member from Annapolis County disputed the efficacy of tax breaks and payroll subsidies in keeping businesses in rural areas.

“The experience that we have had in Annapolis County is that buying jobs, whether by tax holidays or by payroll subsidies, is a waste of money,” said Burton Leathers. “As soon as the tax holiday goes away, the business goes away. As soon as the payroll subsidy goes away, the jobs go away.”

But party leader Stephen McNeil said he supports the incentives.

“One of our issues with the particular government’s approach today is there’s no commitment to Nova Scotia,” he said in an interview. “They’re just handing money out. No job targets, no commitment down the road.

“We’re going to invest in Nova Scotians who are putting their own money on the line or investing in their communities. . . . It’s a different relationship than when you’re reaching out and giving $50 million to a company from Quebec to come in. The spirit of this is investing in Nova Scotians.”

The membership also passed a resolution to ensure the long-term operation of the Yarmouth, Digby and Pictou ferries by providing funding in concert with the federal government.

West Nova riding president Louis d’Entremont said despite Premier Darrell Dexter’s promise this week to revisit previous ferry feasibility studies, he doesn’t believe the government will help bring the Yarmouth ferry back into service.

“To me, it’s a smokescreen and it’s a delay tactic,” he said. “I really believe they have no intention of replacing the Yarmouth ferry.”

Joachim Stroink, who owns a business in both Halifax and Wolfville and is seeking the Liberal nomination in the Chebucto riding, said he experienced the effects of the ferry’s demise first-hand when sales at his Valley store dropped by 18 per cent after the service was cut.

Stroink told the gathering, “This ferry needs to come back in a big way and we need to start it in this room.”